ADLS Gen2, or Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2, is a cloud-based storage solution from Microsoft designed specifically for big data analytics. It essentially combines the functionalities of two earlier services: Azure Data Lake Storage Gen1 and Azure Blob Storage https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/training/modules/introduction-to-azure-data-lake-storage/.
Here's a breakdown of what ADLS Gen2 offers:
- Storage for various data types: Structured data (organized in tables) and unstructured data (like text, images, videos) can both be stored in ADLS Gen2. This makes it versatile for different big data analytics needs.
- File system experience: ADLS Gen2 provides a familiar file system structure, similar to what you'd find on your computer. This simplifies data organization and management.
- Security at the file level: You can set security permissions for individual files within ADLS Gen2, ensuring data access is controlled.
- Scalability: ADLS Gen2 scales seamlessly to accommodate massive datasets.
- Cost-effective storage: Leverages Azure Blob Storage's tiered storage options, allowing you to optimize costs based on data access frequency.
- Built-in disaster recovery: Inherits high availability and disaster recovery features from Azure Blob Storage, ensuring data redundancy and accessibility.
If you're looking for a cloud-based storage solution to handle big data analytics workloads, ADLS Gen2 is a strong choice to consider.
